Results 7,001-7,020 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my response to Question No. 1189 of 25 January 2006, I informed the Deputy that my officials had sought clarification on aspects of the declaration lodged by the person concerned. Although a response was recently received through the Deputy's office, the information contained therein does not satisfactorily resolve the matter. It appears that the person concerned and her husband have been...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned applied for asylum on 23 October 2003. The claim was investigated at first instance by the Refugee Applications Commissioner who concluded that the person concerned did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. The commissioner's recommendation was communicated to the person concerned by letter dated 14 July 2005. The person concerned appealed this...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 2 May 2003 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter dated 25 April 2005 that the Minister...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: While it is not the practice to comment in detail on individual asylum applications, the issue of deportation in this case does not arise at present. As the Deputy will be aware, applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 14 December 2003 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by a letter dated 3 August 2005 that the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 26 February 2003 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter dated 15 February 2005 that the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Question No. 149 of Thursday, 26 January 2006, and Question No. 181 of Thursday, 9 February 2006. In response to Question No. 149 of Thursday, 26 January last, I indicated that an appeal against the determination of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner to transfer the asylum applicant to Belgium had not been received by the Office of the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The immigration division of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has recently been in correspondence with the person concerned requesting documentation in support of her application for residency. A decision will be made on the case upon receipt of all the documentation requested.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State on 26 August 1997 and claimed asylum. She withdrew this application on 3 October 1997 and applied for permission to remain based on her parentage of an Irish-born child. She was granted residency in the State on this basis on 6 October 1997. I understand from records available to the Department that she maintained her residency status in the State...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Department's citizenship section in January 2004. I have been advised by my officials that the processing of the application has almost been completed and that the file will be forwarded to me for a decision in the near future. I will be in touch with the Deputy and the applicant...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that use of the alcometer by a member of the Garda when forming his or her opinion about drink driving under the Road Traffic Acts 1963-2003 is not a necessary proof in such prosecutions. The failure to use the alcometer in the two Garda divisions in question has not adversely affected the rate of convictions in the divisions.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy arrived in the State in August 2000 and claimed asylum. That application was refused in January 2001 and an appeal was not submitted within the permitted time limits. I informed the Deputy in response to Question No. 22 of 2 February last that the person was granted permission to remain in the State on 30 September 2002 on foot of her parentage of an...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Department of Transport has no figures on how many vehicles registered outside the State operate on our roads. Under the EU motor insurance directives that have been adopted by all member states, it is mandatory for drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles in the EU, when driving in a public place, to be insured for third party liability. Furthermore, an insurance policy extends to...

Written Answers — Stardust Tragedy: Stardust Tragedy (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 587 together. My Department and I are sympathetic to the victims of the Stardust tragedy. My Department has forwarded a copy of the recent "Prime Time" programme to the forensic science laboratory for evaluation and we will be in touch with the Stardust Victims Committee again as soon as a response is received. As the Deputies will be aware, a previous...

Written Answers — Internet Crime: Internet Crime (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. The Internet is an international and worldwide phenomenon with no borders and no single organisation controlling it. Measures to combat illegal materials and activities on the Internet are, therefore, hampered by a multiplicity of jurisdictions, differing legal systems, and differing societal norms. Furthermore, new developments in...

Written Answers — Law Society: Law Society (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: No.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1994, certain money laundering offences came into effect on 14 November 1994. I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date there have been 58 prosecutions initiated with 38 convictions secured. A further four cases are awaiting determination before the courts. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the specific information...

Written Answers — Garda Promotions: Garda Promotions (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that promotions in the Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 to 2002. Regulation 4(1) of the Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 to 2002 states that there shall be a council, which shall...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that procurement activity in my Department continues to be managed in accordance with established public sector guidelines. As the Deputy will be aware, the requirement to produce an annual corporate procurement plan comes from the national public procurement policy framework, which was issued by the Department of Finance in May 2005. My Department's statement of...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, last October the Government decided to introduce a number of new measures to improve the management and control of major ICT projects and the Minister for Finance also announced additional general measures to secure better value for money from public expenditure. On 25 January, the Department of Finance issued guidelines on the implementation of the measures...